CO-OWNER

I am so proud to be one of the owners of ABC Express, Inc. We have built an amazing school and have been blessed with wonderful families. I have my degree in pre-k-8th grade and was teaching all different age groups until 2001. I became more of an acting director at that time. When I am not at ABC Express, Inc, I enjoy time with my husband Matt, my four adult children, my son-in-law and my two adorable grandchildren (who attend ABC Express!). I love exploring small towns and being able to be outside as much as possible. When I am inside, I enjoy playing and entertaining my grandchildren, reading lots of great books and hanging out with my hubby, Matt.

CO-OWNER

When I graduated with a degree in Social Work I wasn't exactly sure what I wanted to do until I happened upon a job at a preschool and I knew immediately, this was my calling. In 1985 when Cathy and I started ABC Express, we weren't sure what direction it would take, but after many years of hard work and even more years of praying, we are so proud of the school we have created. I have taught every age group, with a majority of the years being with the toddlers. In 2013 I moved away from teaching and into the office, but I still jump at the chance to sub in the classroom. Outside of ABC Express, you can find me out walking, listening to music or watching any MN sports team. But my favorite pastime is spending time with my husband, 4 children (all ABC Alumni) and 3 grandchildren.

DIRECTOR / CO-OWNER

I love being a part of the ABC Express team and have worked here in some shape or form since my mom (Cathy Burley) started this school 37 years ago. I have grown up here! : ) I have played many different roles- starting as a student 30 years ago, then became a classroom helper in highschool, teacher assistant in college, came back to be a lead teacher for 6 years, moved into the role of being the assistant director and now I have my own children attending! You can find me greeting families, leading tours, planning field trips and fun family events, as well as helping teachers with their curriculum and being our first “go to sub” in the classroom. My favorite part about the ABC program is that we invest in our teachers and it shows! They are one in a million. When I am not at ABC Express I enjoy my time being a mom to my two children, Olivia and Bobby. I love every second of being a mom! We venture to many parks and are active members in the community. You will also find me out and about at local restaurants with my hubby, Will or my girl friends!

DIRECTOR / CO-OWNER

I have always known I wanted to be a teacher and am happily starting my 6th year being a lead teacher at ABC Express! I am an ABC Alumni and have had many different roles here over the years! My mom (ABC Express owner - Joanie Keis), has instilled in me my passion for teaching and my love of incorporating music and movement into my lessons. I graduated from UW-Stout with a degree in Early Childhood Education (licensed birth – 3rd grade). I have experience teaching many different age groups, including two recent years in kindergarten! I love that every age in the early childhood world has special qualities about it and each child is so unique and bright! The smiles, hugs, and giggles bring endless joy to my life! When I’m not in the classroom, I enjoy reading, exploring, baking and spending time out and about with friends! My husband and I also enjoy running together, you will never find us sitting still!

HIGH FIVE TEACHER

I am blessed to be starting my 26th year teaching preschool at ABC Express. I received my elementary education degree (kindergarten through sixth grade) through the University of Minnesota, Morris. I developed the high five program in 2011 to prepare children for kindergarten. I use movement, music, and hands-on learning in all subject areas. I love the creativity the children possess, their excitement to learn, and their growing ability to collaborate with their peers. When I am not teaching, you can find me attending my two boys' sporting events (who are ABC alumni) with my husband, enjoying the outdoors, scrapbooking, or running.

PRE-K TEACHER

I graduated from Iowa State University with a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education (K-6) and a special education endorsement in mild/moderate disabilities (K-8). This begins my 15th year teaching pre-K at ABC Express. My goal in teaching, pre-K, is to create a loving, inclusive, secure, positive learning environment to best support the development of each child. I strive to educate the whole child – socially, emotionally, intellectually, physically and spiritually by providing children with enriching experiences. I want to cultivate a love of learning and have each child leave my classroom feeling confident to embark on their next journey – kindergarten! One of the greatest joys of teaching, pre-K, is seeing the excitement children bring to my classroom! This age group is curious by nature, and everything is a wonder! Every day is extraordinary! When I am not teaching, I love to be with my husband and our two sons. We enjoy spending time together outdoors and being on the lake!

PRE-K TEACHER

I am happy to say this will be my 7th year teaching the Blue Group at ABC Express. I attended Molloy College in New York where I studied Elementary Education and Sociology. After graduating college, my husband and I married and moved to Arizona where I taught Kindergarten for two years. After moving to Edina in 2016, I accepted a teaching position at the Edina Early Learning Center where I taught for three years. I really enjoy teaching in the Blue Group which is filled with 4 and 5-year-olds. The best part of this age group is seeing the growth of each child at the end of the year. I love to be hands-on with my group and bring fun into learning. Being a teacher is such a fulfilling part of my life, to know that I touched the life of each one of my students. Outside of school, I enjoy spending time with my husband and two daughters. We love to cook, play games and travel. Our recent vacation was so wonderful in Hawaii as it was our first trip together since the pandemic. I also enjoy exercising, reading, and spending time outdoors.

PRE-K TEACHER

My name is Kelly and I am blessed to be returning to ABC Express this year. I taught here many years ago as an aid during college and since then have had two children of my own, helped open up a preschool in Golden Valley, ran the summer care program for them and have taught pre-k for the last 15 years. I come back to ABC Express excited to work with the incredible team and continue my true passion for teaching. In my classroom I like to bring both heart and purpose into our daily learning. I love finding creative, age-appropriate ways to introduce big ideas through play, hands on exploration and storytelling. I believe that at this age every moment is a learning opportunity. My favorite thing is watching my students connect the dots, ask questions and grow confident in their abilities. I pride myself in creating a joyful, structured space where children feel safe to take risks, solve problems and discover who they are as learners. Outside of the classroom I my greatest joy is being on mom and doing all mom activities. I love to read, go on family adventures with our dog and be active!

PRESCHOOL TEACHER

I am so blessed to be a part of this great preschool program! I started working at ABC Express in August 2007 and have been happily teaching 3/4 year olds since day 1! This is such a fun age to teach because during the year the kids spend in this classroom, you are able to see them grow in so many different ways! I am able to see their personalities come through, see them form strong friendships, and watch them learn and comprehend so many academic goals, it is amazing what can be accomplished at such a young age, and to see it first hand happening is even better! When I'm not in the classroom most of my free time is spent with my husband and 2 stepsons in a hockey rink or on a baseball field. We have a puppy who we all just adored and love taking her on walks or to the dog park. I also love to run and spend time reading outside when the weather is nice!

PRESCHOOL TEACHER

Hello! My name is Kierra. I am a Yellow group, 3 and 4 year old teacher. I am from Lake Crystal, around the Mankato area. I graduated from Minnesota State University, Mankato. I got my degree in Family Consumer Science with an emphasis of Child Development and Family Studies. I have work with child for about 10 years in many age groups. The most fascinating part about working with children is how fast they can learn. I will help your child grow and learn physically and cognitively to become amazing little individuals. Apart from working with kids I like to hang out with my family at our cabin, hanging out with friends and traveling.

PRESCHOOL TEACHER

My name is Tracy and I am a yellow group teacher. I bring a passion for early childhood education and a nurturing spirit to the classroom every day. With over 20 years of experience working with young children, I am dedicated to creating a safe, engaging, and supportive learning environment where every child can grow and thrive. I have a degree in Early Childhood Education have been a preschool teacher, kindergarten teacher, special education para, assistant preschool director and preschool director. I believe in learning through play and encourages curiosity, creativity and kindness in my students. In my free time, I enjoy walking and biking the lakes. I love to swim with my kiddos and watching them play traveling basketball. My favorite part of teaching preschool is watching a student’s eyes light up as they discover something new. Their smiles, curiosity and eagerness to learn make the job so enjoyable.

TRANSITION PRESCHOOL TEACHER

Hello, my name is Emma and I am very excited to be an orange group teacher! I was born in Great Britain and moved across the pond with my husband and daughters in 2002. I have had experience teaching kindergarten, special education and 2–3-year-olds. Two- and three-year-olds are such a fun age group to teach! Their curiosity about life is so exciting! Each child has such a unique personality, and I love getting to know each child on an individual level. I love to bring my creativity into the classroom and making each learning area come to life with the props that I make. Dramatic play and themes are my strong suit. I love to see their imaginations come to life. When I am not teaching, I love to bake gluten free goodies, decorate my shoes, make birthday cards for people, listen to vinyl records with my husband and hunt bargains at thrift and antique stores.

TRANSITION PRESCHOOL TEACHER

Hi, I’m Maddie and I am in love with the ABC Express community! This will be my second year here and I truly have found a place to call home. Teaching the 2-3 year olds has been so fun because of their endless curiosity and joy they find in the simple discoveries. I like to describe my teaching style as gentle and a joyful guidance. I like to bring so many creative, hands-on learning opportunities for my little learners. I like to fill my classroom with plenty to explore and areas to tangibly learn from. What I love most about working with young children is that no two days are the same! The biggest reward of working with young children is when a child is proud from their heads to their toes after they have succeeded at something new! When I am not teaching, I love spending time with my young almost two-year-old son and husband. They are the light of my life and my true spark for my passion to work with children.

TRANSITIONAL PRESCHOOL TEACHER

Being a teacher for twenty-five years at ABC Express has been such a blessing! I enjoy all the hugs, giggles and love the children bring. It is wonderful to see the joy on their faces as they have new learning experiences. My favorite activity to do with the kids is music time. I love to be silly with the songs, put actions to the words and get them involved. When I’m not at school I enjoy hanging out with my husband, three daughters, my puppy and my kitty! My favorite things to do are shopping, eating at new restaurants, traveling and adventures!!

TRANSITION PRESCHOOL TEACHER

I joined the ABC Express Family in August 2023. After 18 years at the VA in Minneapolis as a toddler teacher, I had a wonderful opportunity to be a nanny for my niece, Rae, for the past five years. As she heads off to Kindergarten this fall, I am excited to start a new adventure with ABC Express teaching in the Orange Group. I graduated from Northwestern College with a degree in Social Sciences and have a background of over 20 years of experience in the early childcare environment. Outside of the classroom, I enjoy shopping, traveling, eating at new restaurants, and spending time with my wonderful family and cat Persimmon.

TODDLER TEACHER

I have had the privilege of being a part of the most magnificent team of teachers at ABC for the last 14 years. In my time at ABC I have spent my days teaching our earliest learners at school called the Green Group with my partner Anya. In our days together we are building a strong foundation of learning, singing, making friends and having fun all at the same time. Working together with the best kids and families. When I am not at ABC I am spending as much time as I can with my hubby, 4 adult children and their spouses and my 5 beautiful grandchildren. I also enjoy taking vacations, exploring new places, spending time with friends, gardening and cooking.

TODDLER TEACHER

The kids and families and teachers at ABC are the best! It has been such a joy to work with such awesome, sweet, hilarious and loving kids every day! I have been at ABC for seven years and I have worked in both the Green and Orange groups in the past but now you can find me as a teacher along with Lisa in the Green Group - the youngest littles at ABC! The best part of being a teacher with this group is seeing how independent they become and how much they learn to love school and their friends! When I am not at school I enjoy being outside and in nature and going running, baking desserts and cooking new recipes, listening to podcasts and hanging out with my family!

TEACHER

I have been a part of the "ABC Team" since January of 2021. I graduated from the College of St. Benedict with a degree in social work and worked the majority of my career at Minneapolis Children's Hospital before staying home to raise my 3 daughters. When I found myself an empty nester, I was looking for a part time job that would be both fun and rewarding and that is when the opportunity to work at ABC arose and it has fulfilled both criteria! I have primarily worked as an assistant in the blue group as well as covered Kayla's maternity leave last year. I have thoroughly enjoyed seeing these kids grow and change from the first time they walked through the door until they walked across the "stage" for preschool graduation. Their joy, enthusiasm and love of learning gives me great hope for the future!

CURRICULUM, PROJECT AND CLASSROOM COORDINATOR

Hi! My name is Tayler and I am so thrilled to be coming back to the ABC Express family that holds such a special place in my heart. My husband had us traveling for his graduate school and his job the last couple years. While we have been traveling, I have been teaching Kindergarten in those cities and have over 10 years of in early childhood as well. I have always believed in the power of connection, consistency and joyful learning in early childhood. “Coming back feels like coming home.” ABC Express is the school where I’ve made some of my favorite memories and I am so grateful to once again be part of such a loving, supportive environment. With an education degree and a deep love for working with young children, I am especially passionate about nurturing confidence, independence and curiosity in all of my students. In my time outside the classroom I enjoy traveling, exploring new restaurants and being with family and friends.

CURRICULUM, PROJECT AND CLASSROOM COORDINATOR

Hello, my name is Andrea and I am so excited to be back with ABC Express. I worked here many years ago as a high school aid. ABC Express sparked my passion for children and teaching and I haven’t looked back since. I went on to pursue a degree in Early Childhood Education and previously taught at Carondelet Elementary for several years. I left teaching for a little bit to raise my two daughters, who now attend ABC Express. I have been wanting to get back into the field and this felt like just the place to do it (insert full circle moment). I have a strong passion for young children, helping them all individually thrive and find a love of learning. I cannot wait to get back into the classrooms and spend my days with children again! Outside the classroom I spend my days with my family, taking my daughters on adventures and visiting my family who live out of state.